FAIR Conference 2013

I was invited to speak at the very first FAIR Conference, which took place at Ben Lomond, California in 1999. (If anyone is interested, my presentation from that year, “A Tale of Two Restorations,” comparing the restorations of Joseph Smith and Alexander Campbell, is available here.) At that first gathering, the number of speakers almost exceeded the number in the audience, but still it was a lot of fun, and somehow I’ve managed to get back every year since. The second year it was held at Alta, and then at the Provo Women’s Center (who knew Provo had a Women’s Center?), then at UVU, and for the last number of years at the Southtowne Exposition Center in Sandy. This year’s edition will be August 1-2 (it’s always the first Thursday and Friday in August) at the new Utah Valley Convention Center near the Marriott in Provo. Below is the schedule of presentations. If anyone is interested in coming, here is the registration info. Once again I’ll be there, keeping my attendance streak intact for another year. Here are the scheduled presentations:

What a line up! This group of apologetic presenters presents a vastly-different image than the stereotypical Daniel Peterson flavor and image of FAIR. Where are the hard core conservatives? Chased out, or boycotting? (Sorry to be so provocative.)

Wow. This looks like a really great conference! Thank you for blogging all the details. I’m going to see if I can get myself down there. Like Mike, I am extremely intrigued for the chance to hear Maxine speak. All I know is that she was rebaptized last year. Her journey and perspective is sure to be epic. – MoSop

FAIR is a non-profit organization that generates some of its modest income from the sale of conference audio and video. Videos of this year’s presentations will be sold after the conference is over. After a couple of years the videos will be posted on YouTube for free.

Some presenters prefer not to be videotaped, or at least to have review and approval of their recordings. Maxine Hanks has asked for approval of her video. So there is a possibility it may not be released.

Kulturblog

Time to update Susan’s post from August of 07. “They say that these are not the best of times, But they’re the only times I’ve ever known. And I believe there is a time for meditation In cathedrals of our own.” -Billy Joel, Summer Highland Falls

NOTE: This is an essay I wrote as an undergraduate at the University of Utah almost thirty years ago. I am republishing it here as a remembrance of my favorite professor, Mark Strand, upon the occasion of his passing. Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live… […]